Emotions! Happy? Sad?

 A big range of emotions has followed the recent elections. Some people are happy. Many are sad and concerned. Whatever you may be feeling…

I’m pondering what it would be like if we had no feelings – emotionless humans. Life would be rather bleak. Some of you may say, “sounds great – no ups and downs - steady blah all the time.” Seems to me, deep down, we all know how boring that would be. No compassion, no emotional engagement in movies we watch, no delight or distress over anything or anyone.

Emotions are very powerful. First of all, I thank our creative Lord for giving us the gift of strong emotions. Emotions can trigger our thoughts and compassion and can lead to actions. We all need motivation.

 

Yet, with emotions comes the need to exert control over them, because they can become unruly. Left unchecked emotions can utterly disrupt our peace. I’m speaking from experience. My emotions continue to cause me extreme sadness as I deal with grief over the loss of my husband four years ago. This message is for me and you.

 

A year ago, I bought gifts from Hobby Lobby of inspiring metal plaques for everyone in the family. Mine says, “I Think I’ll Just Be Happy Today.” Some days that’s a big effort, but I try.

I have found it is possible to create the emotion of happiness within. In fact, we have a command from our loving Lord to rejoice daily. “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice in it.” Psalm 118:24. How can we cultivate happy feelings? Here are some ways:

 

1. Gratitude helps. For every sad thought of Wayne’s absence, I try to express a grateful thought for the special connection we had.

 

2. Talking with God helps. Have you tried conversing with God when you’re scared or lonely or disappointed? Then listen for a response from Your omnipresent and eternal God. You are never alone or unloved! (If you need assistance getting your conversations started my book Jesus Time can help.)

 

3. Have you spent time in nature recently, whether it’s sitting for an hour on your front porch or going for a daily walk? This is a truly an emotionally restorative activity for me. The natural world reminds me that God is ultimately in control and there’s beauty and order to be found around us. 

 

4. Have you read up on heaven? It’s a wonderful place. My priest friend had a near death experience (NE). He described the event vividly and said he didn’t want to leave heaven but was told he had to go back because his mission on earth wasn’t yet complete. Perhaps you want to read of similar experiences in the book Imagine Heaven by James Burke. This life is not all there is.

 

By the way, it’s possible to know for certain that you’re going to heaven someday. You may ask can you be sure? Here’s how. Repent for any past wrongdoing. Choose to love, obey and depend upon God with all your mind and heart and love your neighbor as you do yourself. Then live peacefully and joyfully as directed by the Holy Spirit. Yes, it’s that simple.

 

You have every reason to choose the emotions of joy and peace no matter what crazy things are happening in our world. Emotions can be guided by our choices. I’m not saying this is always easy, but it is possible. Best of all God is always available to comfort, guide and help – that’s VERY good news! 

 

For more help view my free videos on emotional topics at YouTube-Judith Rolfs  1. DOWN Days, Controlling Your Emotions 2. Stop Emotional Clutter and 3. Worry, How to Stop Doing It. However, and this is VERY important, if you’re skirting with clinical depression do seek godly professional counsel IMMEDIATELY. 

 

WRITING UPDATE:

 

Lots going on this month!  First ever two books launching at the same time! My children’s Book Four in the Tommy Smurlee series, Tommy Smurlee at Dunmoor Castle is my favorite of all. Read about the laughter, the humor, the wild ideas, and the fun adventures of Tommy, his girlfriend Grella and the other unusual characters. For kids eight and up (some adults enjoy my mystery fantasies as well.) Also newly released A Stroke of Murder is a reprint of a book published 20 years ago with a new cover. The story about love and forgiveness is meaningful today.

 

*****

Have you ever tried memorizing Scripture? You can have instant joy and comfort anywhere, anytime. This is a good Scripture for starters:

“It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night…For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy at what your hands have done. How great are Your works, Lord.” Psalm 92: 1-5 

 

Looking Back

What would it be like to live without memories? Would we feel as if part of our lives had been erased somehow?

 

As a  young mom, I snapped camera pictures to hold  memories to savor later. As a middle-aged, involved, working grandmother, I often saved images for later.

 

Later has come!  Truly, one of the most delightful aspects of aging is having time to ponder pop-up memories from the past stimulated by words, sights, sounds, smells. They often intrude at  extraordinarily unpredictable times. 

 

Some psychologists say looking back is bad, but I know it’s fine. All depends on where you're looking. If you're finding the good moments, you get  to relive joy, but if you're looking back at places where you felt trauma, perhaps reliving it a little helps minimize the depth of the pain. 

 

Today with cooler days approaching I’m remembering the many drives my husband Wayne and I took to Florida in fall and winter. I recall the interesting people we met at breakfast in our different hotels and all along the way. And the thousand times getting in and out of the car into my privileged passenger seat, and gazing at the handsome profile (yes, I’m biased) of my husband, as he sat beside me. Thinking of calm, easy days and jam-packed days (probably of my doing )and best of all, the man I loved to be with who always looked into my eyes and made me want to slow down.

 

I remember writing some children’s stories enroute South. Wayne dictated the Sandbox story and I edited it in the car on my laptop. (It’s one of 12 in my amazon book Unforgettable Stories for Kids) The moral is that bigger isn’t always better. I wrote much of my parenting book on the two-day ride home one year. Sometimes we listened to books on tape. Great fun!

 

Always we prayed for angels to guard us and our car and praise Jesus they did - I recall some very close calls with trucks and treacherous ice storms.

 

Memories are a private treasure that no one can take away. A widow does a lot of looking back hanging on a scaffold of faith. As we age our brain may hold some memories locked for a time, but we’ll unlock them again in heaven. One of the wonders of heaven may be embracing all our good memories at once and reliving them with those we love who are present.

 

So overall, yes, I recommend looking back but only if you're really looking forward also. We must continue to be plan-makers. Because that's how we keep walking among the living. Only the strong pull of God on my life keeps me from overdoing looking back.

 

Thank you Jesus for designing us with brains that have the ability to remember! Your creative plan is perfect! 

 

 

WRITING UPDATE:

I have a new writing project, soon to be announced. Love Always, Mom has a beautiful new cover designed by Eddie Jones (he wrote an exciting pirate series for children). He offered his amazing graphic services  I think you agree, he’s incredibly talented. We both enjoy giving books to inmates in prison.

 

Excited to have an upcoming Book-Signing October 3, 11-1 P.M in the new coffee shop in Walworth Josie Rose Coffee. At noon  I’ll give a presentation with Q&A. Signed copies of my mystery fantasy Adventures of Tommy Smurlee books will be available. And Unforgettable Stories for Kids.

 

MEMORY SCRIPTURES:

 

Psalm 77:11 “ I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.”

 

Philippians 1:3 “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.”

 

Happy Fourth of July!

 Peace. Really?

                            

Peace is a lovely word – it ripples off the tongue pleasantly. But it’s not easy to create or hold onto.

 

Heroic men, sons, brothers, husbands died so we could live in peace in America. May we celebrate each one in our hearts with every firecracker that pierces the sky. Their lives mattered. Our gratitude is forever.

 

Peace in the world starts with me.  Shockingly I have to check my heart often. Is peace there? If not, what am I allowing to disturb me and ruffle my emotions? 

 

Jesus said it’s beautiful to live with peace. I clearly know when it’s absent but I don’t always know immediately why. Until I stop and meditate. Even a few moments of meditation can be effective in helping me identify my peace robber. 

 

How?

 

Our thoughts determine our level of peace. Our mind is busy always with our thought voices. We can be thinking thoughts of envy comparison, resentment or thoughts of abundance, contentment, and joy. Unless we control our thoughts, the world around us controls them for us. That is why so many live in fear and anxiety. 

 

Perhaps we have concern for the culture? I’m not unmindful of what goes on in the world, but I refuse to be distressed by it. 

 

To evaluate personal peace, I also look at family relationships, and pray for unity within the family always. 

 

I love my family and friends. I avoid getting into discussions about personality and behavior of current political leaders. Strange as some leaders may be, they’re in these positions because God has allowed them. I don’t agree with every decision they make, but it’s not worth getting into controversy with loved ones.

 

We all have one great power available that I truly believe has effect - the power of prayer. I have known prayer’s effectiveness in every area of my life. 

 

 

CS Lewis said when we begin reading and speaking God’s word, something begins to shift within us. The mind is never quiet and we need to constantly format it in truth and love. 

 

Scripture recitation helps create soul-deep personal renewal. Repetition of God’s word isn’t mindless - it is holy, and it becomes transformative. 

 

I want the kind of peace that passes understanding because it is molded within me and available to each of us.

 

Here’s to a summer of inner peace!

 

Blessed, grateful 4^th of July!

 

Proverbs 23:7 “As he thinks in his heart so is he…”

 

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will be in your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

 

 

Writing Update:  

Mystery reading is great summer fun by the beach or pool.

The first of my five novels is still my favorite: Directive 99. The latest, Shot in the Night, is a close second. They're availabe thru amazon or at Angelus Gifts, Walworth or Lakeside Books, Lake Geneva. Both can be read on Kindle too. Let me know what you think or better yet leave a review!

 

 

Why The Waiting?

Waiting takes many forms, and it's always a part of life, but why? I’ve asked God, what's the value in waiting?

Aren’t many of us resistant to waiting? I certainly am a “let it happen now” kind of person.

 

I wait for warm weather all winter. Now that it’s here, I’m glad, but a little sad too, because I know how quickly it will be gone.

 

When I must wait in a line because I have no choice, I have a plan. I use the time for balance exercises or pray for people in line around me for whatever needs they might have, but I still don’t like it.

I so admire Jesus. He waited thirty years to begin His journey, then patiently crisscrossed the land of Israel for three years toward His death and our salvation.

I’ve certainly had to wait often. Like nine months at a time, awaiting a baby four times.  Maybe that wait was preparation for the patience I’d need as a mother nurturing children. 

Looking back, I felt so peaceful during those waits. Waiting doesn’t have to be stressful, a good reminder.

Perhaps the value of waiting is understood best in retrospect, rather than in the moment.

 

A benefit that comes with waiting is time for growing faith to realize God has plans for ultimate good, whatever the situation. Because we know this and trust Him can we be content during the wait.

 

Only God knows what happens to a soul in waiting. It must be good because He allows so much of it.

 

What do you need to wait for right now in your life? For cancer treatment to work? For a child to experience the faith you so want to pass on? Are you still waiting for the love of your life? For the completion of a project you’ve held dear for years? May God give you patience and His peace.

In a sense, all of life is a waiting period - waiting for heaven’s gate to open. I am in my 80’s - I need to wait less than most. Just like summer flits by, so do the days of life, which is why we strive to live them well.

Blessings on your summer, my friends. Savor every day!

Psalm 27:14 “Wait for the Lord, be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

Psalm 130:5 “I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His Word I put my hope.”

WRITING UPDATE:

Thanks to you readers A Widow’s Love Story and my two recent mystery novels Shot in the Night and Mystery At Wycham Manor are selling well at Daniel's Sentry and Angelus Gift & Home in Walworth.

Reached a milestone this week for my YouTube channel - Fantastic Family Life (JudithRolfs) with 1400 subscribers and now 50,000 views for one video 10 Ways For Respecting Your Spouse. I pray each viewer’s marriage is enriched by these tips. This growth is largely because of your word-of-mouth sharing - I’m hugely grateful. 

My writing continues on Book 4 in the Tommy Smurlee mystery fantasy series. I'm praying for an agent connection to make them into wholesome family movies. 

Happy Mother's Day!

  

Mother’s Day makes me think of Love - Moms’ love and God’s Love. 

One of my favorite Scripture verses, Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV), mentions God’s love: “The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior Who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He … will rejoice over you with singing.” 

I treasure knowing that God delights in me and rejoices over me! This was the kind of love I felt for 60 years from my husband who is now in heaven. What do people passionately desire if not to be loved unconditionally and wildly?

Can you imagine the difference it makes walking through life knowing that the eternal God, Creator of heaven and earth, thinks you’re cool. Many, but not all of us, had moms and dads making us feel like this. Unfortunately,  not all could. My heart goes out to children and adults who walk through difficult challenges of life without knowing how deeply treasured they are now by God.

I used to remind my counseling clients that if a parent disappoints you, God never will. If a friend or spouse abandons you, you need not jump into the pit of despair, nor give up your joy. You have a layer of love over you so deep that no human hurt has the power to stifle your love core unless you allow it. What’s not to like about knowing you’re loved like this? 

Your Father God delights in you and, gulp, me. He’s an incredible lover. God’s kind of love is what I want to pass on to my children, grandchildren and greats. 

May we all be great lovers!

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

WRITING UPDATE

Thanks for warmly receiving my recent mystery novels Shot in the Night and Mystery at Wycham Manor. I enjoyed several May book events meeting readers, old and new. 

I’m currently writing Tommy Smurlee, Book 4 in my mystery fantasy series for kids 8 and up. It takes places at a castle camp in England's Lakes area. Any suggestions for the title appreciated! Previous titles of the first 3 books are: Tommy Smurlee and Dunster’s Camp of Mystery and Inventions, Book 1, Tommy Smurlee and the Missing Statue, Book 2, Mystery of the Silver Shells, subtitled a Tommy Smurlee and Grella Weller Adventure Book 3. 

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The picture above is one of my garden statue: A mother and her son holding a book as she reads to him. For our 40^th anniversary, my husband Wayne insisted this statue belonged here to celebrate my four children, seven grandchildren and my books about Tommy Smurlee and Grella Weller. Still missing my man by the way – sadly doubt that will ever stop. Thank God for His love!

 

Gloorious Spring - Happy Easter

At long last spring has arrived! A reason to celebrate for sure. I love to sit still outdoors, and absorb the music of nature. I like to imagine the incredible energy being released in the woods and waters of Lake Geneva. Blooms about to burst, trees soaking up moisture, eager to display a beautiful new season of greenery. 

 

Hear the whisper of God all around you.

 

As we prepare to honor Jesus this Easter, war goes on. We are not unmindful of the sacrifices made for us to live free. With deepest concern we pray for all wars to stop.

 

Yet Jesus forever broke the bondage of death with His astounding Resurrection! We keep the vision of resurrection deeply embedded in our minds, so we don’t have to fear. Easter reminds us, the sad parts of life will end. Jesus wins and so do we.

 

And Jesus wants us to rejoice even as we pray and lament. We can do both at the same time with the incredible brains He has gifted to us.

 

We are on earth to glorify God with our every breath and moment of life. Period.

 

We are models for our children and grandchildren when we stay calm and cheerful (I call this my CC Plan )with our beliefs, our confidence in God and trust in the unfolding of His good plans for us. The atmosphere within our families can stay peaceful when life is lived day by day with Jesus.

 

WRITING UPDATE:

 

How about a fun, exciting mystery with lots of twists and turns? Hot off the press! Shot in the Night - a revised version of an earlier book with new characters and content.I want my readers to be entertained and equipped for life’s challenges as they witness my psychotherapist heroine solve problems with love and skill.

 Now available at Angelus Gifts in Walworth and on amazon or contact me for an autographed copy. 

 

Nothing like daily devos to enrich your personal relationship with Jesus. I suggest Jesus Time or God’s Near also available locally and on amazon.

 

How about enjoying a fun book with your entire family? I suggest reading a Tommy Smurlee mystery fantasy book to your children or grandchildren at dinner, one chapter a night. Book Four in the Series is coming soon.

 

Here’s to a glorious spring! 

Celebrating the wonder and wisdom of Easter with you.

 

Vs. 11,12 Message Bible “Light-seeds are planted in the souls of God’s people, joy-seeds are planted in good heart soil. So God’s people, shout praises to God, give things to our Holy God!

 

The Wonder of Christmas 0 to 2025

 The Impact of Christmas

Christmas is upon us again. What shall we believe? It's so preposterous. One man, one Life, one supernatural wonderworker who passes on his power and love to certain unlikely, unworthy individuals like each of us!

In every state and in every country, people speak about firsthand experience of the Man God, Jesus Christ, Who changed their lives. We meet people often who say they're no longer the same after being in His presence and surrendering to His lordship.

The transformation of every human nature begins with this birth we celebrate. Without Christ s entrance into human reality, paradise was indeed forever lost. Now it's as close as our skin. The first Christmas was truly the world's game changer. We know this, not in the head, but deep in her heart-checker of truth. Without holiness and goodness and love we're nothing. Who but Christ can make us what we need to be and deeply unconsciously long to be? 

This Bethlehem babe who became an adult victim, a cross-hanger who shed royal red blood for the likes of us. Could it be true that His blood purifies our own? Symbolically yes, and really truly? Yes! 

Who needs a savior, a changer, a better maker? We do. Don't we all want to see with God's eyes the beauty formed in each soul and help the radiance burst forth that's locked inside. We sense it's presence. 

Isn't that why God came so we can love out the beauty in one another. And smother the sinfulness of pride and self absorption that crawls all over us. 

How can we be worthy gift givers without recognizing the Giver of every gift we've ever received? And how shall we know him? And why doesn't everyone? This weird thing about Jesus' birth dying and rising is that it empowers the world and gives deep meaning to gift giving and loving without limits.

This Christmas may we meditate a bit on the mystery and wonder of the Christ change in us. We who call ourselves Christ-ians have experienced newness in our lives and the peace that passes understanding.  What level of peace can that be? One that doesn't rest on circumstances like even world peace. The kind that will flood your heart with contentment no matter what if you're a follower of this baby-become-man-become King of Glory.

Christmas represents the beginning of this greatest mystery and change event in human kind – weird but oh so wonderful. As we shop and bake and wrap and hang the holy may we, may I, remember it's not just a home we decorate but our lives. It's not just gifts we give, but love that comes from the originator of the idea, Jesus. May you have a Jesus filled Christmas!

Thankful For Life

 

So many wonderful things happen in our world every day and I love to focus on them! But now and then evil things need to be called out to create change. At one point in my life, I was ordered by my doctor to have an abortion. He insisted that my life was in danger from previous hemorrhaging issues and that my child would be brain damaged because of an RH blood problem. I seriously considered aborting. I already had three children and didn’t want to leave them without a mother.

 

After much prayer and thought my husband and I decided to trust that God knows what He’s doing when He creates life. If we had to raise a brain-damaged child He would give us the grace to do it. Also if it was my time to die well then OK, but I could not kill this child. That baby, Daniel Thomas Rolfs, is now in his 50s and has brought so much joy and delight into this world from the moment of his birth. He was born perfectly healthy, and I survived with an early C-section. 

My son Dan at the toy store he manages in Delafield, Wi.

 

I’m telling you this so you’ll understand where I’m coming from when I say I’m totally opposed to Planned Parenthood. It’s such a twisted play on words -  instead it should be called Center for Murdering Babies. Planned Parenthood is a huge industry making evil people rich! Wayne and I used to participate in group protest in front of their buildings.

 

No wonder we have a population decline when we abort 3000 children a day! 1 million a year. How horrific! Yet we look down on ancient civilizations who practiced sacrificing their children to many gods. Do some people only have one god, self? If someone thinks a baby is inconvenient, an annoyance or an interruption to their lifestyle, they simply destroy it. Even though if they could make the selfless act to carry the child to term by giving the child life. And put it in the hands of an infertile woman who cries herself to sleep every night because she can’t have a child to raise and love.

 

You may or may not like President Trump, but I am forever grateful to him for giving us three Supreme Court justices who voted constitutionally to strike down Roe vs Wade which was totally against the Constitution of the United States. The states have control now - abortion was not totally stamped out, but at least more babies can live and every single life is precious in the eyes of God.

This Thanksgiving my gratitude list is very simple. I’m thankful for the gift of life - to open my eyes and greet new days EVEN though I continue to miss my husband. I’m grateful to moms everywhere, including yours and mine, who chose life. I pray women with an unexpected pregnancy can be supported by pro-life centers and individuals like us who will help them in their journey to give life.

 

Blessed Thanksgiving!

Dan, his wife Stephanie, and me.

 

  

BOOK PROMOTION: My Christian books are available for Christmas gifts to your loved ones. I have written something for everyone from devotionals to mysteries to children’s books all containing strong, clear, moral principles that can enrich lives of all ages. Not only my ideas, but God’s. You can find all my books on Amazon and at some local stores like The Delavan Store, Angelus Gift and Home and Sentry in Walworth.I especially recommend the Tommy Smurlee series for children ages 9 and up.

Psalm 139:13-14 "For You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

The Heart Matters

Heart to Heart

 

Perhaps we look at other individuals too much based on the exterior and not enough by the heart. 

 

Whatever you may think of Charlie Kirk’s politics, if one judges simply by his heart, his desire was to speak truth and do good. I understand his desire because from the time I began writing and family counseling 40 years ago, I’ve wanted to promote what I called fantastic family life. I’ve encouraged men and women to be faithful to their marriage vows. No, not to endure a bad marriage,  but put the effort into creating a joyful marital relationship. I could see this was best for their children too. And I wanted to connect people with Jesus and encourage them to read the Bible packed with great principles for how to live your best life.

 

 From their lofty pedestals and church platforms pastors can disagree with Charlie Kirk’s methods but who among them had the courage to speak the truth to the young men and women in their church - telling them they should not have sex before marriage? Charlie wanted to save young people from ignorance and poor choices And wasting their lives on things that didn’t matter. Who spoke more boldly about the opportunity to become heaven dwellers for eternity?

 

Like Charlie, I’ve also really wanted to expand the kingdom of heaven also and to bring more joy on earth which, I believe, comes from living and breathing life with Jesus -living with trust - once we’re connected and made Him our Lord, we can receive the Holy Spirit’s guidance through any difficult thing life may bring us.

 

And I’ve endured a lot. One was losing a grandson at age 24 and yet I saw God work in amazing ways through his death to bring incredible good to the world. I actually think Drew might even have chosen sacrificial death to create saving so many lives through the Fentanyl Fathers non-profit organization his father and brother created to educate young people about the danger of drugs. 

 

These past three years of living only with God the father Jesus and the Holy Spirit enabled me to survive what seemed impossible. Life has been very difficult. I still miss my husband whose DNA had become so mixed with mine that every day it now seems a huge chunk of my heart is missing .

 

Hearts matter, and if we all looked on people’s hearts, it would be much easier to be kind to people we disagree with about political preferences. 

 

Charllie Kirk opposed the trans lifestyle because he knows it’s a denial of the will of our Creator. Isn’t it a supreme active of defiance to object to the sex given you by God? Young  people need old ones like us to point out when their choices are ridiculous or dangerous to their well-being. It’s not tolerance but stupidity to think trans is acceptable to the will of God for an individual.

 

One of the many things I’m grateful for about Charlie Kirk is that he modeled for young people the value of personal learning,. Taking charge of your education – add more history, philosophy, faith - not just doing what’s required by classes you’re taking. Decide for yourself what’s worth learning and really dig into it and seek out men and women  more learned than you and ask them to share their knowledge with you. 

 

Charlie was also passionate about living out principles of good health – get enough sleep, exercise, discipline schedule, use time wisely - what’s not to like about a role model like this for your teenage children? For sure Charlie and my fictional character Tommy Smurlee would’ve been great friends. Tommy’s the hero in my mystery fantasy book series designed to develop bold truth speakers and strong moral qualities in young people while solving an exciting mystery at a fun summer camp. 

 

I’m so grateful for Jesus in my life helping me to survive these three years and adjust to a different kind of life. I’m saddened that another widow named Erika must navigate this journey.  It takes courage to walk in each new day as a widow. Fortunately, my God says He’s strong and we can be courageous because He says: “I am the Lord your God and I am with you always.”

 

In conclusion, may we all keep our own heart happy and pure. Free of ill will and hatred. You certainly can dismiss Charlie’s politics but you can’t dismiss the sincerity of his heart as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

 

May you experience deep joy as we transition into another fall, another season closer to eternity. Let’s be intentional by living day by day to glorify God. Heart to heart to heart.

 

 

Proverbs 4:23 – Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

 

Tommy Smurlee Mystery Series

The Music of Change

Fall approaches, school begins anew. Ready or not. The years of childhood pass like lightning flashes.

 I recall the music of family with my four children.  It's the parent’s melody and I loved being immersed in its sweet sound. 

But my music makers are off now leading concerts of their own. The memory of our music together sustains me. From time to time we gather and I smile at the joyful noises in my heart.

 

I think of moms and dads still in the midst of the music. 

 

There is a rhythm to life that only the Lord knows, a time for babies to be born and educated and a time for children to be transformed into adults. I don’t know how it happens with such speed and precision. I do know when I try to mess with my own family’s life, the melody it becomes clangy.

 

The giving, the getting, the loosing, the stretching, the tying tight and the hard releases with children as they mature can be tough. Only God makes it all so beautiful and right.

 

Lord, I watched my old expectations as a parent fly away and wonder why were they once so important.  Teaching about You Jesus, absorbing You, exuding You, seems the only parenting purpose of value.

 

My eyes glisten, when I try to write words that describe Your You-ness Jesus as the great I AM and the FOREVER-WILL-BE and YOUR presence that permeates my family reality with security and joy. Sheltering was never all up to my husband Wayne and I. God really can snatch our loved ones from evil and work ugly things for good.

 

Which is why I can trust  my babies-turned-adult, my grandchildren and now my great grands into the invisible arms that never fail to protect them.

 

Change and transition, I am bigger than these foes. I can embrace every new note of now. Love within a family never ends, it simply gets lived out differently.

 

God’s plan is good, really, assuredly, ultimately and so I can be content whether my household nest is full or empty during hours of the school day or for a lifetime.

 

 

 

 

The music plays on. I need only listen.

 

 

HELPFUL SCRIPTURE:

 

“Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. “Proverbs 17:6

 

“Bear with each other and forgive one another. If any of you has a grievance against someone, forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13

 

BOOK SUGGESTIONS:

 

My books MAN IN COMMAND, 52 WAYS TO BE A GREAT HUSBAND AND DAD and LOVING EVERY MINUTE, 52 WAYS TO LIVE, LAUGH AND LOVE AS A WOMAN will help you have a great family life. I have included the principles I learned from 30 years of family counseling and from .studying God’s Word for families.

 

Amazon Review for Man in Command: Great material for men who take being a husband and dad seriously and are willing to learn how to maximize their roles in the family.”

Amazon Review for Loving Every Minute Women:” Great real-life practical examples. It’s a wonderful tool and I find myself rereading it as issues come up.”